Featured Supporters
Matt Rhoades
Matt Rhoades caught the flying passion from his employer at Setpoint Systems Inc. who flew a Cirrus out of Centennial, Colorado. One day he picked up Matt and ...
Jeff and Patti Plantz
Some hundred years after the event at Kitty Hawk, two Wisconsin brothers calling themselves the “Wrong Brothers” built their own ultralight, and like Wilbur and Orville, attempted to ...
Pat Hartness
Pat Hartness laid aside his logbook at age 75 after a remarkable life in aviation.“It was the perfect opportunity to start driving a tractor and still stay actively ...
Tom Dolaskie
When Tom Dolaskie returned from his service in the US Air Force to his hometown of Munising, Michigan in 2008 he saw the effects of the economic downturn. As he walked among the ...
Jim Hanson
For a fellow who’s flown every sort of aircraft, and has landed all over the world with the late Hall of Famer, Buzz Kaplan, Mr. Jim Hanson of ...
Glenn and Carol Punske-Brasch
Glenn and Carol Punske-Brasch give back through public service. Like many pilots, Glenn always wanted to fly. He grew up in Chicago, attended college at Southern Illinois University ...
Jerry Wilke
Jerry with Judy and Bob Gillette and Wilke's yellow Husky at Gillette's Lakewood Lodge Airport, 14WS in Stone Lake, WI. When Jerry Wilke believes in an organization, he invests ...
Tom Jensen
A few moments with Tom Jensen of Evergreen Sky Ranch, 51WA near Auburn, Washington, and you learn he’s had a vast amount of aviation, aeronautical, volunteer, and life ...
Bob & Judy Gillette
When you meet Bob and Judy Gillette, it’s easy to imagine them sailing their traditional two masted teak ketch off the California coast, or tooling around the Midwest ...
John Sowles
John Sowles of North Yarmouth, Maine has been fascinated with both powered and non-powered aviation since youth. His dad was a Naval aviator in WWII, and the interest ...
Becki “Pete” and Dan Normandeau
These two Montanans were raised in the little timbered town of Trout Creek, along the Clark’s Fork of the Columbia River as it heads northwest to Lake Pend ...
Margie Prill
Margie and two of her granddaughters sweeping out the pilot shelter during the Ryan Field Fly-in, June, 2013. Taken by Jo Schumacher. To say Margie Prill is husband (and ...
Joyce Woods
Joyce Woods simply and wholeheartedly “gets it” when it comes to the RAF mission. Not only does she get it, she loves to work with people to make ...
Bill McGlynn
Bill McGlynn was raised in Butte, Montana, and was so intent to learn to fly that he joined the Civil Air Patrol at Bert Mooney Field. But CAP ...
Jerry Cain
“When I raised my hand at a Montana Pilots Association’s Directors retreat in Bozeman in September of 2003, I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” ...
Dan Prill
Dan Prill of Sand Coulee, Montana, has interests as varied as the snacks aisle at your supermarket. From flying his Cessna 185 off his own airfield, to the ...
Chuck Jarecki
To simply call Chuck Jarecki of Polson, Montana, an “RAF Supporter” falls way short of the contributions this pilot and retired rancher has made to the RAF and ...
Ron Normandeau
It’s hard to believe that Ron Normandeau’s aircraft started out as a box of airplane parts. Ron, of Polson, Montana built a beautiful 1947 Aeronca Chief and now ...
Bob Martin
Three things stand out among RAF supporter Bob Martin’s passions: aviation, his devotion to Havana Regional Airport, and the newspapers his family started in 1855. Bob is the ...
Pete Smith
Pete cut his teeth on light metal fabrication in the business his father started in northern Virginia 50 years ago. They moved it to the central Montana town ...
Tim Kaseno
For a pilot who has flown all over the world, first as a Navy pilot in Sikorsky H3 helicopters, then flying logistic support in the Beechcraft C12, and the ...
Gordon Rock
“Backcountry is where, adventure is why” – Gordon Rock. During the summer of 1964 while on a 3,600-mile Canadian kayak trip, Gordon Rock of Mercer Island, WA learned that he could hire a floatplane ...
Bob Rose
“I’ve had a lot of good fortune,” RAF Supporter Bob Rose says of his career path. Rather than be drafted and sent to Vietnam, Bob applied for pilot ...
Kevin Johnson
A breakfast when Kevin Johnson was in high school determined his future as a pilot. “My dad had served in the US Air Force Reserve as load master ...
Mary Newpower
When Scott Newpower came on board as an RAF volunteer and Montana Liaison, the organization gained a real bonus with his wife Mary. Her contributions to the RAF are ...
Troy Tirrell
As a kid living in Minnesota, Troy Tirrell was introduced to aviation by his father, a Northwest Airlines pilot. They vacationed in Alaska when Troy was a kid. ...
Rachel Thompson
A person doesn’t forget Rachel Thompson. Wife of RAF Oklahoma Liaison Steve Thompson, she steps out of his gleaming Cessna 180 in the middle of the backcountry, unloads ...
Mark Scott
“Mark is a great enthusiast of recreational flying,” RAF Connecticut Liaison Drew Lyons says of retired aeronautical engineer Mark Scott of Bethany, CT. After 37 years with Sikorsky ...
Arnold Bronson
Arnold Bronson owned a successful high-end Scandinavian furniture store in partnership with his brother in Syracuse, NY. In 1973 he and his wife got the travel bug, rented a 31-ft ...
Bob Christensen
Bob Christensen of Ashton, Idaho may claim a healthy case of beginner’s luck, but those who know him would say he is simply quite skilled. His first aircraft ...
Dan Schwinn
If you are pondering the future of GA, innovator, pilot, and businessman Dan Schwinn has a robust and positive message for you. Dan, an MIT graduate, put his ...
Lynn Mareth
There is no idle season for RAF supporter and hard working volunteer Lynn Mareth, now of Bigfork, Montana. If her Super Cub has to wait out the “soggy ...
Ray Steinmeyer
At age 77, Ray Steinmeyer has chosen an encore career that continues his passion for aviation. A career that included professional A&P/IA services, then 30 years with the ...
Joe Feiler
RAF supporter Joe Feiler of Casper, Wyoming loads his tools into his Cessna Cardinal and brings his skills where the RAF is making an impact. Joe’s 35-years teaching ...
Dr. Jim Stevenson
Jim was one of those kids who was fascinated with flight from the start. Living in Wisconsin, he went to Oshkosh regularly. He worked at the FBO as ...
Chet Leach
Chet Leach with his backcountry Bearhawk. From his gyrocopter, a Quicksilver, Rans S-12, a Maule, and now a Bearhawk for the backcountry, and a Piper Dakota 235 for ...
Jay PerryCook
Jay PerryCook operates a charter service in the Puget Sound region and enjoys traveling and camping with family and friends. Jay PerryCook and Tim Riley work on the ...
Chris Arno
Chris, in red with his instructor, Charlie Surprenant. ”I just got my seaplane rating. Pretty much sums it up right there with smiles, fun and flying." Chris Arno ...
Scott Bell
Scott Bell of the Bozeman, Montana area got involved with the RAF early on, operating a Bobcat, excavating and placing culverts for the construction of the pilot shelter at Bozeman Yellowstone International ...
Jack and Arlene Alexander
When Jack Alexander's kids were grown and he decided to satisfy what he admitted was his midlife crisis he learned to fly in 1989. He bought a 1965 ...
Presley Melton
After years of experience flying his Boeing Stearman, Decathlons, an RV8, his award-winning 1943 Howard DGA, and a variety of other aircraft, RAF Ambassador Presley Melton of Arkansas says he ...
Britt Lincoln
Aviation runs deep in Lincoln family history. Brittanee grew up on a Montana ranch next to her family’s grass airstrip. She loved exploring the backcountry with her father ...
Alaine Olthafer-Lange and Andy Lange
Alaine and Andy with their PA-18 Super Cub You’ll notice a buzz of youthful activity at A&A Aviation at Platteville Municipal Airport, (KPVB) in southwest Wisconsin. The young ...
Richard Greensted
Rhys and Richard at Moose Creek, ID There’s aviation, and then there’s recreational aviation. Pilot Richard Greensted knows both. Beginning at age 14 with his intention to become a commercial ...
Bogdan Gutowski
Bogdan and his daughter Loren in the Champ. So, where does the name “Bogdan” come from? “Poland” is his answer. Bogdan’s parents immigrated to the East Coast when he ...
Duane Francis
This photo is unusual because Duane is standing still. He has rarely been seen standing still since he landed his Cessna 205 at Ryan Airfield in the Spring ...
Perry and Sandra Null
Pilot and RAF member Perry Null ignited a multi-generational love of flying, especially exploring the backcountry. He began flying “late in life” and often flew between his home ...
Bill and Yvette Tracy
Most pilots hanker for ever-faster aircraft after attaining their pilot privileges, eager to get from point A to B swiftly. But not RAF members Bill and Yvette Tracy ...
Ray Huot
Ray and his wife load up their 200-hp “Back Country Explorer” and enjoy camping at airstrips in Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. He’s worked on a few of ...
John Clayton
John was one of those second graders who liked to take things apart. Unlike many, he managed to put things all back together, usually in better condition. Strictly ...
Aaron Trueblood
Seventeen-year-old Aaron Trueblood has always been excited about flying. He took time off from his ramp duties at Glacier Jet Center in Kalispell one June day and headed ...
BILL ABLES
After family, service to community is Bill Ables’ next driving thought and motivation. He was raised in Pendleton, OR and graduated from Oregon State University as a Wildlife Biologist ...
Heidi Stoeppler
Heidi Stoeppler found a group of what quickly became “the best friends I’ve ever made,” at an RAF fly-in. She visited with Jeff Russell, joined, and when her ...
Former Senator Carmine Mowbray
RAF Featured Supporter Carmine Mowbray If there was ever an individual who epitomizes volunteerism for the RAF, it’s Carmine Mowbray, from Polson, Montana and St. George, Utah. She ...
A Very Special Passenger
I’ve been flying throughout MT with my father since my earliest memories as a child and have been flying throughout the state and elsewhere since I was 17. ...
Jo Schumacher
The RAF can’t say enough about Jo Schumacher and all she does for the organization. “Jo works her fanny off at Sullivan Lake, Sun ‘n Fun and other ...
Ben Ryan
I was born in Belleflower, California in 1923. My father was an oilfield worker and wildcatter. Mother graduated from college at age seventeen with an engineering degree from ...
Sue Mann
For a woman who works full time as a surgical nurse for the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Portland, OR it’s amazing to consider all the other things Sue ...